Fuel consumption of the new DI Rotax is more than 70-percent better than the next best competing snowmobile engine. Ski-Doo estimates the mileage of its two-stroke DI engine in a Rev-X sled to be approximately 21 miles per gallon. (That sound you hear is sledders rejoicing at their newfound cruising range. Many sleds average 12 mpg or worse.)
We recently test rode several Ski-Doo Rev-X sleds in Quebec. The power delivered by the 600 H.O. E-TEC comes on with serious immediacy. Depending on the consistency of the snow, thumbing the throttle either spins the track (like a burn out on pavement) or rockets you forward. The inherent lightweight characteristic of the two-stroke engine helped Ski-Doo keep their Rev-X snowmobiles light, so they handle responsively and predictably.
More DI Coming
Ford has already announced that its upcoming line of EcoBoost engines will feature direct injection. Combined with turbocharging, Ford sees this combination as a way to reduce engine displacement without sacrificing power or fuel economy. Look for the first eco-boosted engine to be the Lincoln MKS's 3.5-liter V-6.